Color television system



Oct. 28, 1952 Filed NOV. 20, 1947 t Y l l. K 7 W/ w m m m m n MW W. JW J f w 4*' j /QM MA .0 f /\.mm E 7 Z Y n9\ vl 4 ./w n. m 4, wm w w v WW T 7 h V Z R M Patented Oct. 28, 1952 coLoR 'rELEvIsIoN- s YsTEM Albert Rose, Brincetpn, N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation` of America, a, corpqratipn o Del-v aware.

ApplicationNovcmberZ, 1947, Serial'No. 787,211

7` Claims. (Cl. 118-54),l

This invention relates to color television and; more particularly tovcircuit arrangements for the conversion offcolored objects into selectedcompo.- nent color representative video signalA trains.

In the popular systems that have lbeen proposed, for the transmission of television images in` either black and White or in color, the image analyzed by dividing it into elemental areas which are selectedV from the completeA image or image area in an orderly'sequence bya process of scanning to produce electrical signal indica- .tiQns which may then be transmitted one after another in the form ofa video signal train.

As` is well known inthe art, reproduction of,

images in substantially their natural color can be accomplished by additive methods. TransmissionI of television'image's in substantially their naturalcolor can therefore be accomplished, byv

dividing the. image, not only into, its elemental areas, butalso into a plurality of selected component color images which,vforexample, are three in number fora tricolonsystem.

For any. of these methods, however, these-veral` producedA component color signal trains may be transmitted simultaneously when a` simultaneous multicolor method-.1S adopted, or mar-be breken;

appear-in Substantiallythetrue andl natura-@01er in. which; it appeared at the transmitting; Siation.

As is also well known in the art,"th e simultaf neous. type, transmission Of' 0019i imagee nro 'des for Continuous transmission Qf; the, video. slanci; trainscrepresenta-tive ofj eachof the selectedcon1-v ponent colors, A typical simultariecus` type;A system is shown and described man article entitled Simultaneous All-Electronic Color` Televisiong Ilecelnbenl 194.6-,

'Ifhe transmission by v the s o-called sequential process is usually accomplished through theuseof; moving color filters which` are selectedv from the, three. primary or compensent Colors which serve toprovide the` color` separation when these component. color filters have been positioned` in the optical path along which` the image is ciirect-` ed. to. the transmitting camera tube and,Av are changed fromone. to another atarapidrate.. At;

theireceiving. point; or points ofthe system, alike set ofllterstothatuf; the transmitter i s located in` theoptical path between the imagewieproduing tiube andr the observer. rIfhe filters ofv both the transmitter and. receiver are mechanically driven to. position like selected comporientv colors in synchronism..

A typical sequentialcolor type system is-shoWn andxdescribed' in an article entitled An Experif mental Color Television System, beginning on page 141 of the RCA Review for June, 1946.

` The. sequential process referred to aboveis n ecessarily limited in frequency of change of component ,colorV by reason of the mechanical devices employed. It is customary toemploy ak eld se-v quential rate withthe employment of mechanical filter changing arrangements.

Although color images have been reproduced bythe aforementioned sequential method, there are certain fundamental difficulties involvedv which tend to reduce the entertainment value. of the sequential system. Typical diiiiculties` in,-V volved include color action fringes, resulting from movement between individual component` color scannings, color flicker, and u se of mechanically moving elementsas Well as others.

It; will be seen that such a difiiculty of color action fringes andcolor fiicker can be largely eliminated byemploying a more rapid rateof change between selected component color images. This cannot be" accomplished very satisfactorily by the employment of mechanically rotating filter elements.

By the, employment of electronic devices for changing; from one selected component color to.

anotherr selectedcomponent color, very rapidly changing systems may be employed, even tothe extent of dividing each picture element into sev. eral selected component colors to. eliminate en.

ftirely any d iiiiculty resulting from cclorraction fringes or color flicker.

According to this invention, an image pickup,v tube is employed which is selectively responsiveby electrical control of itselectrodes to any of apl'u#A rality of different selected component'color images.- A signal channel for each ofI the selected component colorsisprcvided, and al keying circuit controllably connected to the electrodes andthe Signal channels to make the electrode and-the corresponding colorz channel operative together only during predetermined sequentially recurring time intervals. which may-be at, an elemental sel quentialratef 1t: may aise occurfat a 1113s Secuenctial rate, frame sequential. raieanr! other desild: rate.A

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved color television system.

Another object of this invention is to provide a color television camera which does not have registration problems.

Other and incidental objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification and an inspection of the accompanying drawing in which l Figure 1 shows in block diagram one form of 'this invention; and

Figure 2 shows by circuit diagram the details satisfactory for employment in the form of the invention shown in Figure l.

Tur-ning now in more detail to Figure l, there fis shown an image pickup or camera tube I, which takes, for purposes of example, the form of an orthicon with a signal electro-n multiplier 3.

The coi1 5 associated with tube is employed for control of the electron beam 'I and is popularly known as the focusing coil. A deflection yoke 9 and an alignment coil are also provided.

Light in substantially the natural colors of object I3 is focused on a target electrode I5 by an optical system including lens |'I.

Although the operation of the orthicon and other camera tubes is Well described in the art, it perhaps is well, for the proper understanding of this invention, that its operation be briey outlined here.

The popular storage type image pickup tubes have an electron gun, a photosensitive insulated surface generally referred to asthe target, and a deflection means for an electron scanning beam. The scene to be transmitted is focused on the target on which it builds up, by photo emission,

a charge pattern corresponding to the light and shade in the original scene. The beam of electrons generated by the electron gun is caused to scan the charge image in an orderly sequence of scanning. While a constant stream of electrons approaches the target,V the stream which leaves it is modulated by the charge pattern. In one popular form (not shown) a signal plate located close to the target surface picks up the modulation by capacitances and feeds it into the grid of the lirst amplifier tube. The same video signal, however, appears in the modulated stream of electrons leaving the target, and in the form of the invention shown in Figure 1, the modulated stream of electrons leaving the target is employed to furnish the necessary video signal.

An electron gun I9 produces an electron beam 'Iof constant beam current which scans the target I5. In the dark, the target is at a potential substantially identical to that of the cathode 'of the electron gun, and all of the electrons constituting the beam I return froml the target without striking it, as illustrated by a return beam 2 I. If part of the target 5 is illuminated and thereby driven positive by photo emission, enough beam electrons will land in this part to drive it back to cathode potential. The return beam 2| has impressed upon it by subtraction the same type video signal that an amplier would see if connected to the. target. The significant practical diierence is that an amplifier lead connected to the target seesonly the video signal, while an amplifier lead connected to a collector for the return beam sees the full beam current minus the video signal. y Y j It will be seen that the modulation of the return beam is dependent upon the charge pattern on target I5. If, however, by the application of an auxiliary potential, the target |5 is driven negative, electron beam 'I will be returned without supplying any electrons to target I5, and therefore, regardless of the charge on target i5 resulting from photo emission, no modulation of the return beam 2| will occur. If, however, only certain designated conductors 23 are charged negatively, the electron beam will approach target I5 opposite those conductors 23 which are not charged negatively, and the return-beam 2| will be modulated in accordance with the charge placed on the target I5 by the photoelectric emission resulting from the optical image focused thereon.

By providing suitable multiple element filters in connection with target I5 and conductors 23, multiple images may be formed on the target I5. If, for example, all the conductive elements 23 connected to keyer 25 are associated with a strip of red filter or if the conductive elements themselves transmit only the red light, and all the conductive elements 23 which are connected t0 keyer 2l are such that they transmit only greenlight, and all the conductive elements 23 associated with keyer 29 conduct only blue light, it will be seen that the image which'is focused on target I5 is divided into extremely narrow striplike image elements of the selected component colors of red, green and blue. The conductors-23 are transparent and necessarily of such' a small size that they are not discernible to the unaided human eye at a normal viewing distance. f

It follows that if the conductors 23 associated with the green and the blue filters are charged negatively, while the conductors 23 associated with the red filters are not charged negatively, the electron beam 1 will form in its return beam 2| a video signal resulting only from the scanningof the red sections of the image. Likewise, if both the red and blue sections are charged negatively, the return beam 2| will be aiected only by the photoelectric charge on the target |5, which is positioned adjacent the green designated conductors 23. Then, if the conductors 23 associated with the blue filters are permitted to re` main at, for example, ground potential without a negative Charge while the conductors 23 asso ciated with the red and green'nlters are driven negatively, the return beam 2| will be modulated only by the photoelectric charge associated with the conductors 23 representing the blue sections;

'Ihe conductors 23 can be keyed at any desired rate, and in the form of the inventionshown in Figure l, an elemental sequential rate is provided.

synchronizing pulses are applied to keyers 25, 21 and 29 through delay circuits 3| and v33 in such a manner that the pulses arriving on conductors 23 are in sequenceand substantially uniformly spaced.

Suitable delaycircuit arrangements for keyers 25, 21 and 29, together with associated keyers and amplifiers, are shown in ldetail in Figure 2.

l The return beam 2| strikes a collector 35 and its energy multiplied ln electron multiplier a,4

which has a signal output electrode 31. Amplifiers 4|, 43 and 45 are alternately keyed tooperation by keyers 25, 21 and 29 at the same time'their correspondingly designated conductors 23 receive their relatively positive charge.

If, therefore, the conductors 23, which are connected to keyer 25, have associated therewith red color filters, the lower channel, including keyed amplifier 4 I, transmits the video signal at the time information concerning the red image is con-A H Y Likewise, if the conductors 23 connected to the keyer'ZI have,

tained in the return beam 2|.

assorxiated therewith the green color filter, .keyed amplifier 43 will .be actuated only during `the interval of time in which the electronbeam 2| contains information of the green component color image.

Integrators 41, 49 and 5| are connected in the circuit to produce, so to speak, energy from keyed amplifiers 4|, 43 and 45 continuously without in any Way destroying the detail of the image. The reason for the integrators 41, 49 and 5| becomes obvious, when it is remembered that keyed ampliers 4|, 43 and 45 are operative sequentially and it is desired .to produce a simultaneous type color television signal.

Integrators 41, 49 and 5| need not be applied, as nor-mal circuits will tend to integrate the signals from the keyed amplifiers.

If, however, anothervform of this invention is practiced wherein the keyed amplifiers 4|, 43

and 45 are keyed in a line sequential or frame sequential rate, integrators 41, 49 and 5| will, of course, not be employed, and color television transmitter 53 will function as a sequential transmitter transmitting only one color image signal at a time.

If; however, elemental sequential rate of change is employed, color television transmitter 53 will provide three simultaneous color signals.

Turning now in more detail to Figure 2, there is shown a suitable circuit arrangement for pro- Viding keying and sequential amplification in the practice of this invention.

A synchronizing signal, as illustrated, is applied to tube 55, which operates as the keyer illustrated as block 25 in Figure 1. An appropriate delay arrangement may, for example, take the form of the K1| cable 51 illustrated, or may take the for-m ofthe well-known delay networks involving inductance and capacity. Tubes 59 and 6| are employed respectively as keyers 21 and 29 of Figure 1.

The output signals of tubes 55, 59 andV 6| are connected to conductors 63, 65 and 61, respectively.

If the circuit constants are so chosen that at the instant the incoming synchronizing pulse charges keyer 55 to cause it to transfer to conductor 63 a ground potential, the electron beam will approach the target l5 adjacent conductor 63 in such a manner that some of the electrons of the beam will deposit thereon and some will .be returned, dependent upon the photoelectric charge resulting from the light image. At the same time, by reason of the delay of the synchronizing pulse through cable 51, tubes 59 and 6| will cause conductors 65 and 61 to be slightly negative with respect to ground. A potential 2 volts negative is indicated, for purposes of example.

The portion of the electron beam approaching conductors 61 and 65 will be repelled by reason of the negative charge on condensers 61 and 65. The photoelectric charge on the photoelectric globules adjacent conductors B5 and 61 will therefore have no effect on the beam current. At this instant, therefore, the only information in the return beam will be gathered from the photoelectric globules immediately adjacent the conductor 63.

By the time the synchronizing pulse has arrived at tube 59, electrodes 63 and 61 will be at a negative potential, while electrodes 55 are charged at ground potential. At this instant. the

electron beam will be aieoted only by the photoelectric charge opposite conductors 65. Likewise,

'6 at the instantthe synchronizing pulse arrives .at tube 6|, the photoelectric globules adjacent electrode 61 will influence thefelectron beam.

The tubes 55, 59 .and 6| alsokey tooperation the amplifier .tubes .69., 1| and 13 in sequence to correspond with their associated conductors 63, 65 vand 61.

Although the .size of the electron beam was illustrated to encompass .a .plurality of .conductors 23, the V.size of the electron beam may be vsmall enough )to extend over 'only' a portion or only one ofthe lconductors 23.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A Acolor television `transmitting system comprising an image pickup tube having a common outputcircuit said image pickup tube including target electrodes having electrically independent and electrically modulatable intermingled groups of interconnected elementsand wherein .the elements of each group are sensitive .to a different selected .component color, a signal channel for each of said selected component colors,- said vsig*- nal Ychannels each vconnected to said common output circuit of said image pickup tube, a plurality of keying circuits, one controllably connected to each of said groups of elementsand the' corresponding component color representative signal channel, said keying circuits connected in cascade through signal` delay circuit arrangements and one of said keying circuits adapted -to receive a sync pulse through input terminals.

' 2. A color television transmitting system comprising an image .pickup tube having a common output circuit, said tube including image receptive target electrodes havingv electrically independent `and electrically modulatable intermingled groups yof interconnected elements each of said elements of each group being sensitive to a different selected Acomponent color land whose element size is indistinguishable to the unaided human eye, a signal channel vfor each of said selected component colors, said signal channels each connected to said common output circuit of said image pickup tube, and a plurality of keying circuits, one controllably connected to each of said groups of elements and the corresponding component color representative signal channel, said keying circuits connected in cascade through signal delay circuit arrangements, one of said keying circuits having input terminals, said input terminals adapted to receive a sync pulse.

3. A color television transmitting system comprising in combination an image pickupl tube having a target electrode with a plurality of sections, said image pickup tube being of the type in which the component color representation of the developed image signals is electrically selectable, a signal channel for each of said selected component colors, said signal channels each connected to said image pickup tube, and a keying circuit controllably connected to each of said electrode sections and signal channels to make said electrode sections and the corresponding color channel operative together only during predetermined sequentially recurring time intervals.

4. A color television transmitting system comprising in combination an image pickup tube having a common output circuit and a multiple section image receptive target electrode, means for controlling the selected component color sensitivity of said target electrode by an electrical control, a signal channel for each of said selected component colors, said signal channels each connected to said common output circuit of said acid-97e image pickup tube to receive said image signals from said image pickup tube, and a keying circuit controllably connected to each section of said multiple image receptive target and said signal channels to make said component color representative electrode sections and the corresponding component color signal channel synchronously operative during predetermined alternately recurring time intervals.

5.' A color television transmitting system comprising in combination an image pickup tube having a common output circuit and image receptive target electrodes having a plurality of sections each section responsive onlyto one diiferent selected component color, a signal channel. for each of said selected component colors,

said signal channels each connected to said common output circuit of said image pickup tube, and a plurality of keying circuits, one controllably connected to each component color representative section of said target electrode and the corresponding component color representative signal channel, said keying circuits connected in cascade through signal delay circuit arrangements, and one of said keying circuits adapted to receive through input terminals a sync pulse.

6. A color television transmitting system comprising in combination an image pickup tube having a common output circuit and wherein image signals are developed by scanning image receptive target electrodes having a section for each selected component color, a signal channel for each of said selected component colors, said signal channels each connected to said common output circuit of said image pickup tube to receive said image signalsfrom said image pickup tube, and a plurality of keying circuits, one different keying circuit controllably connected to each component color representative section of Said target electrode and the corresponding component color representative signal channel, said keying circuits connected in cascade through sig- 8 nal delay circuit arrangements, and one oi' said keying circuits adapted to receive through input terminals a sync pulse timed in accordance with said scanning.

7. A color television transmitting system comprising in combination an image pickup tube having a common output circuit and wherein image signals are developed by scanning image receptive target electrodes having a section for each selected component color, a signal channel for each 0f said selected component colors, said signal channels each connected to said common output circuit of said image pickup tube lto receive said image signals from said image pickup tube, and a plurality of keying circuits, one controllably connected to each component color representatve section of said target electrode and the corresponding component color representative signal channel, said keying circuits connected in cascade through signal delay circuit arrangements, and one of said keying circuits adapted to receive through input terminals a sync pulse timed in accordance with said scanning to recur more rapidly than the line scanning frequency.

ALBERT ROSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS De Vore Aug, 23, 1949 

